Ski for aeroplanes



Nov. 24, 1931. F. .1.' 'BITTE-R 1933323@ SKI Fon AEROPLANES Filed Dec. 20. 1928 2 Sheets-6mm l SKI FCR AEROPLANES Filed Dec. 20. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 24, i931.

UNITED STATES SKI 2F03 1. e

appmmon mea amamos so. ma. seran no. ama

This invention relates toa ski or runner and particularly to such a device adapted for use with an aeroplane.

It is desirable to have skis for supporting an aero lane when the same is operating where lan ings are made on snow, ice or other surface where there is small friction, such as on grass or sod. It is desirable in such a ski to have lightness and still have the 10 requisite stren h and to provide means accommodating t e necessary swinging movement of the aeroplane about its supporting spindles.

It is an object of this inventiom.thereforeH 1B to provide an aeroplane ski havmg light, y

simple and yet strong and durable construction. v

It is a" further object of the invention to rovide an aeroplane ski comprising a runner @having a hollow column secured to the to surface of said runner and tapering upwar ly from said runner, said column havmg a v bearing opening extending transversely therein adjacent its top adapted to receive e 25 an aeroplane supporting spindle.

It is still another object of the invention to provide 'a ski for an aeroplane comprisin a runner having a lower layer of sheet meta an up r layer of wood which comprises a $0 plurallty of longitudinall extending strips, said runner also 'prefere ly having spaced metallic strips adjacent the ed of said metal layer and at the under su ace thereof. It is still another object of the invention to provide a ski for an aeroplane comprising a, runner having an upstanding memberv thereon adaptedto receive the supporting spindle of an aeroplane, and comprising resilient means resisting rotation of said spindle in said member.

A .It is more speciicalll an object of the invention to provide a s comprisinga runner having secured to the top surface Athereof an upwardly tapering hollow column having a bearing for an aeroplane supporting spindle' adjacent the top thereof, a casing having a pair of compression springs therein, a plunger between said 50 springs and articulated means connecting following description m is supported thereby;

' j for an aeroplane said lunger to said spindle for preventing rotation of said spindle. A These and other objects and advanta of the invention will be vfualliy set forth in t e e in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which Fig. 1 is a view in s ide elevationv showin the ski with a portion of the aeroplane whic Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken online 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig: 3 is a view in side elevation' of a portion of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

a part thereof being broken away and other parts being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation showing a slightly modified construction and. also showing the aeroplane, a portion of the aeroplane being shown in different position in dot-ted lines;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation as seen from the left of Fig. 4; y

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of theski shown in( Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, andl i i Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal section throu h the sprin casing used.

Re erring to t e drawings, particularly Figs. 1 to 3, a. rtion of an aeroplane lage is indicate as 10, having the supporting frame members 11, 12 and 13 which conver into a common4 portion from which' pro]ects a spindle .14. i This spindle in the most common construction of aeroplanes'has mounted thereon the wheels on which the aeroplane runs in taxiin In accordance with' tlgie present invention a ski is .provided comprislng a runner 15. The runner 15 comprises a sheet metal layer 15a havin a plane flat surface for the ter part o its length, and being slightly curved upwardly at its forward end. The runner has a layer of wood or similar material 15b superposed on and in contact with, layer 15a which layer is also straight for th greater part of its length but curves upwardfusely at its forward end with layer 15a. The

l layer 15b is made of a plurality of longitudinally divided and extending strips which are in engagement with each other at their adjacent sides. While the number of strips may be varied, in the embodiment of the invention as illustrated, three of such strips areshown. The layer a is shown as bent around the front and -rear ends of layer 15b and extending some distance over the top of said layer at said front and rear ends. A plu-,- rality of spaced headed and nutted bolts 16 extend through and Asecure together the central stri of layer 15b and layer 15a and the heads o said bolts being countersunk in the layer 15a. Ground-engaging runners 15e formed of strips of metal are disposed in contact with the surface of layer 15a adjacent the edges thereof and headed and nutted vbolts 17 extend through layers 15a, 15b and thereabout aty its bottom, which column is -disposed centrally of runner 15 transversely thereof and is bolted to said runner by a plurality of headed and iiutted bolts 20 extendying through flange 19avand layers 15a and 15b, the heads of said bolts being countersunk in layer 15a. It will' be noted that'member 19 is of oblong or elli tical shape in horizontal cross section, t e lon axis thereof extending longitudinally an centrally of runner 15. The *column 19 referabl is closed at its top as shown in ig. 2 an the same preferably has secured at its inner side reenforcing and bearin members 21 each in the form of a curv plate substantially fitting the'curve of the inner side of' member 19. .=Memb,ers 19 and 21V have a transverse aperture. extending therethrough adjacent the top of member 19 in which is .received and journaled the spindle 14.r 'As vshown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spindle 14'projects from column 19 at its terminal end and lan arm 22 has a lit hub embracing spindle '11411111 clamped t'ereto by the headed and.. .'.nlutted fbolt 23 passing through pro'ecting lears`22a of arm 22.l Thearm 22-exten srear- "wardly, normally in substantially horizontal position and has an apertured lug at its rear end in which is swin ngly connected aneyel let at one ,end of a p unger rod 24. The rod l 24 extends through the end 25a in the ferm of a cav threadedA onto a cylinder 25 shown as of cy indrical form, cap 25a having a central boss forming a guiding means for rod 24. Casing 25 has an apertured lug 255 at its other end pivotally connected by a suitable pivot 26 to an angie bracket 27 boned to l runner 15 in` the rear of column 19. Rod 24 is threaded at its end which is disposed in casin 25 and a plunger 28 in the form of a cylin rical block or disk is threaded on said rod. A nut 29 isalso threaded on rod 24:c and engaging plunger 28. A compression coiled spring 30- is disposed in casing 25 above plun er 28, rod 24 passing thru said spring w Anot posed in casing 25 below plunger 28. Springs 30 and 31 respectively en e plunger 28 at one end and one end oacgasin-g 25 at' the other end. Arm 22 is additionally secured to spindle 14 by a pin 32 passing through said arm and spindle.

In operation the parts will be carried by the, aero lane in flight as they are shown in Fig. 1. en the aeroplane makes a landing the ski will engage the ground at its bottom portion and slide along on the ground, with the parts shown intthe same position a's shown in Figs. 1 and4, the ski being substantially horizontal with the central axis -of the fuselage, which isiin substantially horizontal er compression coiled spring 31 is dis-j position. When `the' plane has landed the.

rear end of the fuselage swings downward and has a runner or ski lsecured thereto adapted to engage the ground. There 'will be some oscillation of the fuselage with spindle 14 and thisewill be resisted by the sprin 30 and 31. When the plane is resting on e ground, however, one of said springs will be compressed owing'to the lowered position of the rear end of the fuselage. When the aeroplane is taking ot the runners will move along the supporting surface and the movement of the arm 22 controlled by the springs` will accommodate oscillating movements of the fuselage which are-caused by unevenness of the ground or any movement of the fusela e -just befone the plane leaves the ground.

n Figs. 4 to 7 a modified construction is shown comprising the runner 15 and memthe spindle 14 bers 19 and 21 which c'a carried, as already descri by members 11,

v12and 13. A large partof an aeroplane is shown, comprising the wings 10a, struts 10b, propeller 10o the rudders 10d and the rear reprovided at its rear end with e e bolt 35 cxtending through layers15a an 15b and one end of a casing 36 is pivoted to eybolt 35 by a suitable bolt or pivot, said casing havin an apertured lug 36a at one end through w ich Aim)y silient runner or ski 10e. The runner 15 is ias' ' neaaeie are disposed in casing 36 at either side of plunger 38 said springs engaging said plunger and res tively engagin the ends of casing 36 at t eir other ends. he rod 37 has an eyelet 37a at its end adapted to pivotally en age lugs lOf on the fuselage 10.

In flig t the aeroplane and .ski will normally have the position shown in Fig. 4. In landing the ski will engage the bottom, and the rear end of t e aeroplane will gradually lower until the ski 10e engages the ground. There will be more or less oscillating movement of the areoplane about the axes of spindles 14 and this will be reu sisted and the shocks absorbed bythe springs 39 and 40. When the plane comes to vrest with the tail runner on the ground the spring 40 will be compressed.

' From the above description it is seen that a plicant has provided a very simple and ecient structure of aeroplane ski. The ski has been constructed after a great deal of experimentation and is constructed' and arranged to withstand the shocks and strains encountered in landing a plane. The column 19 of applicant gives am le strength and at the same time can be ma e of comparatively thin metal so that the ski is light 1n weight. The column also having a solid peripherall0 surface prevents snow and ice from collecti therein. An open-work structure for the ski is objectionable as tending to collect snow and ice. The column 19 as shown can also be made with a longer diameter lengthwise B5* of the ski than transversely thereof so `that there is no great resistance to the air.` The movements of. the plane are,cushioned by the resilient mechanlsm provided and a zd landing is easily made. The device has n l amply'demonstra-ted in'practice and found to be very succesful and eiicient.

It will,of course, be understoodthat various changes may be madein the form, details, pro ortions and arrangement of the parts, wit out departing from the scope `of applicants invention, which, generally ted, consists in a device capable of Carr'- ing out the objects above set forth, in t e novel parts and combinations of parts dis- '50.A closed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A ski for Aan aeroplane comprising, a.

il the ends thereof, a bearing and ree'nforcing lund at itsl ski interich the 3. Aski for an aeroplane comprising, a

runner having a lower ayer ofsheet metal,

fan upper layer of wood secured to said first mentioned layer, said wooden la er having a central portion of greater thic ess than its end portions and an u wardlytaperin shell extending upwardly groin and secure to said central portion havin means for receiving an aeroplane supportmg member.

4. A ski for an aeroplane comprising, a runner having a lower layer of sheet metal, an upper layer of wood secured to said first mentioned layer, said layer of wood comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending strips, spaced means securing said layers together, anda member secured to said wooden layer for supporting said aeroplane.

5. A ski for an aeroplane comprising, a runner having a lower layer of sheet metal and an upper layer of wood, the ends of saidsheet metal layer being bent over the top of and secured to said wooden layer,'a pair of metal runners secured to the bottom surface of said sheet .metal layers adjacent the edges thereof, and spaced4 fastening means securing said metal runners and layers together.

6. A ski for an aeroplane comprising, a

runner having a sheet metal layer, a superposed layerl of wood comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending strips, said sheet metal layer being bent around and on top of .l

the ends of said strips, spaced fastening means securing said layers together and an upstanding member secured to said woodeny la er intermediate the ends of said ski a apted to support an aeroplane.

.7. A ski for an aero lane comprising, a runner,ahollow u stan ing tapered columnforming shell wit closed upper portion secured to said runner having a transverse opening therethrough below said ,closed upper portion ,forming a bearing for the supportmg indle of said aerop ne, which 1s rotatable 1n said bearing, and resilientmeans resisting rotation of the spindle in said bearing in either direction. 8. A ski for an aeroplane com rising, a

runner lhaving an upwardlyl curve forwardl end, a hollow column with closed upper portion secured to the .top'of said runner and tapered upwardly therefrom, said column having a transverse bearing below said closed upper ortion adapted to receive and have journa ed therein the spindle of an aeroplane, an arm secured to said spindle, and resilient means connecting said arm andrunner to resist rotation of said spindle in eitherv direction. l

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9. A ski for an 'aeroplane com rising, a runner having an upwardly curved forward end, a hollow column secured to the top of said runner and tapered upwardly therefrom, said column having a transverse bearing adjacent its ltop adapted to receive and have journaled therein the s indleof an aeroplane, said spindle being a apted to project at one side of said column, an arm secured to said projecting arm of said spindle, a casi pivotally secured to said runner, a pair o coiled com ressible resilient means in said casing, a p unger disposed between said means and a link connecting the said plunger and the end of said arm whereby said means will resist rotative movement of said spindle.-

- tapering upwardly therefrom, said column -dle of an aeroplane.

having a transverse bearing opening thereadapted to receive the supporting spin e of an aeroplane, a casing pivotally secured to said runner, a pair of compressible resilient means disposed in said casing, a plunger disposed between said springs, a rod extending-into one end of said casing through one of said means to which said'plunger is ad- -justably secured, and means connecting said rod tosaid spindle whereby said means resist rotation of said spindle.

' 11. A ski for an aeroplane having a runner with an imperforate under surface, a columnforming upwardly tapering shell with closed upper portion disposed on said ski centraltliy7 transversely thereof and substantially mi way between the ends thereof, means rojectving laterally from the base of said s ell, se-

curing means for said shell extending through said means and ski, said shell having a longer diameter lon itudinally of vsaid ski than transversely tereof, and having a transversely extending opening below its closed u per portion in which the wheel spindle o an aeroplane is received and is oscillatable.

12. A ski for an aeroplane comprising a substantially solid runner having a central portion of greater thickness than its end portions, an upwardly tapering shell with closed upper portion having a solid peripheral sur-v face secured to said central portion and upstanding therefrom, said shell having atransversely extending bearing opening below its closed upper portion receiving the wheel spin- 13. A ski for an aeroplane com rising a runner having an upwardly curvedp forward end, a hollow column disposed-on said ski and secured thereto, said column tapering upwardly therefrom and having a closed upper portion and a transversely extending bearing adjacent the top of the column below sai closed upper portion receiving the wheel-carrying spindle of an aeroplane from which the.

versely extending `runner and a lhollow, upwardly taperinrg(i wheel has been removed, said spindle oscillatable in said bearing and resilient'.

runner,- a hollow upwardly tapering shell forming a column with closed upper portion secured tothe upper side of said runner intermediate the ends thereof, said runner providing a closure for the bottom of said column,and said column having a transits top below said closed upper portion for receiving the wheel su porting spindle of an aeroplane from whic the wheel has been removed.

16. A. ski for an aeroplane, comprising a continuous shell forming a column secu against the up er face of said runner inter# mediate the en s thereof, said column havin a transversely extending bearing opening a f jacent its top and in spaced wall portions'of said shell for receiving the wheel sii porti spindle of an aero lane from which tlie whehas been remove 17. A ski for an aeroplane, com rising a runner, a hollow, upwardly exten ing shell forming a column secured to the upper side of said runner intermediate the ends thereof, said column havi a transversely extending bearing opening a jacent its top for receiving the wheel supporting spindle-.of an aeroplane from which the wheel has been removed, and said bearing opening being inbearing opening adjacent vion eluded in a plurality of oppositely disposed means attached to said runnerin spaced relation to said wheel supporting spindle and adapted to be attached to an element of said aeroplane to limit swinging movement of said runner upon its axis.

wall portions of said shell, and resilient In testimony whereof Il aix my signature.

FRANCISv J DITTER.

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